The undersigned state affiliates of ProgressNow released the following statement today regarding last week’s murder of George Floyd and the ongoing murder of Black people at the hands of police in this country. “George Floyd. Jamar Clark. Philando Castile. Thurman Blevins. Ahmaud Aubrey. Breonna Taylor. Marcus-David Peters. Freddie Gray. Patrick Harmon. Darrien Hunt. Damon Grimes. […]
Year: 2020
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Coronavirus Double Whammy: Death and Economic Inequality for Virginia’s Communities of Color
The coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating gross inequalities in the Commonwealth. Rampant racism and systemic discrimination existed way before the pandemic, but now they’ve left communities of color defenseless to the consequences of coronavirus. In Virginia, more Black and Latinx residents are dying from COVID-19 than white residents and more people of color lost their jobs […]
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Trump’s (Not So) Secret Anti-Environment Pandemic Agenda
We all know that Trump’s COVID-19 response has left a lot to be desired, but there is one thing he’s been really on top of during this crisis: rolling back protections for the environment. via GIPHY Hope You Didn’t Like Clean Air Since the pandemic started, Trump launched multiple attacks on environmental regulations, all the […]
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Listen to Them, They Play A Doctor on TV
So Virginia has decided to open on May 15th. Northern Virginia gets an exception because they felt now was not the right time to reopen. Additionally, Richmond and Accomack applied for delays that were granted. Tons of Virginians felt the same way and are speaking out, staying closed, and staying home. It’s reassuring to see […]
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5 Things Less Popular Than Social Distancing
I don’t know about you, but I am slightly terrified about all of these calls to re-open the economy when it clearly isn’t safe yet. “Re-open the economy” seems like code for making people sick so that wealthy corporations can make money off the working class AGAIN. But while the calls to open things back […]
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You Want Us to Vote Now?
For reasons I cannot begin to fathom, the Virginia Senate decided to block efforts to move upcoming local May elections to a time in the future when it might actually be safe to vote in person. via GIPHY I worry about the danger this poses to communities throughout the state, including my own. Officials are […]
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Progress Virginia Stands With Virginia Legislative Black Caucus and Urges Delay of Reopening
Richmond, Virginia—Progress Virginia stands with the Virginia Legislative Black Caucus in urging Virginia Governor Ralph Northam to delay Phase One of his “Forward Virginia” plan to reopen Virginia businesses in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Data from the Virginia Department of Health shows ongoing serious outbreaks, some clustered in communities of color. Reopening too […]
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Polls Show Social Distancing Is More Popular Than Pet Ownership, Beyonce, and the NFL
A new Navigator Research poll tracking public opinion around COVID-19 released numbers today showing that social distancing measures like avoiding public events and gatherings, skipping dinner out a restaurant or drinks at a bar, and spending most of the time inside the home are more popular than some of America’s favorite things, including pet ownership, the NFL, […]
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Now Is the Worst Possible Time to Reopen America
Guys I’m going stir crazy. I know this quarantine business is hard, but social distancing is working. Ever since states have put stay at home orders into place, we’ve started to see a positive shift in new cases of COVID-19. It’s tough to be cooped up but if it’s a matter of my safety, I’ll […]
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What Comes Next? It’s Up to Us
I feel like every day I read a new article that questions what will happen when the pandemic is over and how maybe this pandemic will help create a more equal society. But I know diseases don’t create more equal societies: activists do. via GIPHY The pandemic is creating a period of uncertainty and upheaval, […]